Automobile signal



Sept. 2, I924. 1,506,838

w. G. JOHNSON AUTOMOBILE .s mmm Filed Dec. 1'7 1923 wwwbo:

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Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNI-TED STATES WILLIAM G. zonnson, oreurnnrn, samao ais m a or onniihrls mm. D. PALMER, or PURCELL, OKLAHOMA.

Application filed Decemb ei 17, 1'923. Serial in ei'e'sel Ta all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLJAM G. JOHN- SON, a citizen of the" United States, residing at Guthrie, in the county of Logan and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Automobile Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements signals used on automobiles foi? indicating when a turn is to be made or when the machine is to be stopped, and the principal object is'to provide a simple, inexpensive, reliable and durable device of this character, in which the sigiial'ar'm is normally housed in a" casing, but may be swung outwardly through an open side of the latter to different signalling positions, the casing being provided with a downwardly closable, resiliently pivoted top section adapted to be struck and forced upwardly by the signal arm when in its upper position, thus not only permitting the signalarm to move further upward than would otherwise be possible, but cushioning the upward movement of said arm.

A further aim is to provide novel operating means for the signal arm, including a slidable handle mounted on a support which is adapted to be secured to the instrument board or to other suitable part of the machine, in convenient reach of the driver.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing the application of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, the signal arm being shown in full lines in its concealed osition and being illustrated in dotted ines in its three signalling positions.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a thin rectangular casing which is preferably provided with a tubular carrying arm 2 having a clamp or the like 3 for connecting it with the windshield frame of an automobile, althou 'h it wil! be understood that the casing 0011 d be otherwise mounted if desired.

The casing 1 is formed with an open outer side 4 and is provided with an elastically pivoted top section 5 which extends to said open side, saidtop section beingpreferably inthe form of a sheet metalplate with its outer end 6 curved upwardly, while its inner end is pivotally mounted at 7 and is engaged by a suitable spring 8 to normally hold it in the lowered position shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

A normally lowered signal arm 9 is pivo'tally mountedin the casing 1 as indicated at 10, said arm being adapted to be swung outto any or the three dotted line positions shown in Fig. 2 to indicate a right or left hand turn, or that-the machine willstop When the arm reaches its uppermost position, it strikes the top section 5 which yields upwardly, permitting the arm to move a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, without providing an exceptionally high easing: at the sal ne time, the yieldablemounting of the top section 5, cushions the upward movement of the arm. Attention is here directed to the fact that not only does the top section 5 cushion the upward movement of the signal arm 9, but said top section and the spring 8 co-act to assist in returning the signal arm to its lower position.

For operating the arm 9, I prefer to provide the construction shown. I have illustrated a wheel 11 having an eccentric opening through which the pivot 10 passes, said Wheel and the arm 9 being preferably secured to each other, for instance by a rivet 12. The arm 9 is normally lowered and the center of the wheel 11 is preferably below the pivot 10, as shown in Fig. 2. A chain 13 has been illustrated, said chain passing around the wheel 11 which may well be provided with a pin 14 engaging said chain to prevent relative slippage. One end of the chain 13 is connected by a coiled tension spring 15 with the inner wall 16 of the casing 1, while the other end of the chain is connected with a wire 17 which may well lead through a portion of the tubular support 2, said wire 17 being connected with a suitable handle 18 which is slidable along a plate 19 adapted to be secured to the instrument board of the automobile, or to any other desired part in easy reach of the driver. This support preferably bears the words Neutral, Stop, Left, Right and by moving the handle 18 to the proper word, the signal arm 9 is swung outwardly to the required position. During this swinging of the arm 9, the spring 15 is tensioned to again return the arm when the handle 18 is returned to its neutral position. By having the wheel 11 eccentric with respect to the pivot 10, a comparatively weak spring 15 may be used to advantage, as it pulls upon said Wheel 11 at a point rather remote from the pivot 10 and hence possesses ample power to return the arm into the casing. v

I preferably utilize the back wall of the casing 1, to carry a rear vision mirror 20.

As excellent results are obtainable from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed, but within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor'changes may be made. 7 I

I claim 1 1. An automobile signal comprising a vertically disposed casing having an open outer side and an upwardly movable resiliently pivoted top section whose free end is disposed at said open side, a pivoted signal arm in said casing movable outwardly through said open side thereof and movable to an upper inclined position at which it raises said resiliently pivoted top section,

and means for operating said arm. V

, 2. An automobile signal comprising a vert1ca1ly dlsposed casing having an open outer side, a signal arm pivoted in said casing for outward and upward swinging through said open side thereof, a wheel in the casing connected with the pivoted end of said signal arm and having its center disposed below the arm pivot, a flexible'operating element trained .around said wheel and having an end extending from the lower portion of said wheel toward the inner side wall.

its free end disposed at said open side ofthe v casing, a pivoted signal arm in said casing, movable outwardly through said open side thereof and movable to an upper inclined position at which it strikes and raises said pivoted top section, means for, operating] said arm, and resilient means fornormally holding said outer top section in a horizonta position, said resilient means and said outer top section forming a yielable cushion for said signal arm when swung to said upper inclined position, and acting also to assist in again lowering said arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. I

WILLIAM G. JOHNSON? 

